Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Newcastle's Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to reports. The Premier League champions are believed to have had a recent £70 million offer rejected by the Magpies, but are set to return with an improved bid.
Guimaraes, 28, has been a key player for Newcastle, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists in all competitions last season. The Brazilian midfielder has been linked with a move to Arsenal after the Gunners opted not to match Chelsea's British record £117 million swoop for England forward Morgan Rogers.
Newcastle's Stance on Guimaraes
Newcastle are keen to avoid a repeat of the protracted transfer saga that saw Alexander Isak join Liverpool just before the transfer deadline last year. Isak had refused to take part in Newcastle's pre-season preparations in an attempt to force through his move to Anfield.
The Magpies had signed Guimaraes for £35 million from Lyon in 2022, and are reportedly keen to keep him at the club. However, with Guimaraes linking up with Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Spain following a holiday, it looks increasingly unlikely he will be with the Magpies when they kick off their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on August 23.
Arsenal's Ambitions
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has not spoken publicly about his interest in Guimaraes, but has hinted at the club's ambitions in the transfer market. 'We need to increase the competition internally. We need to make sure we identify the things that we don't have in the team,' Arteta said.
The Gunners open their title defence against Coventry at the Emirates Stadium on August 21, and will be looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. With Guimaraes reportedly set to be a key target, Arsenal's efforts to sign him will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
Sources
This report was synthesised from the following coverage:
